ROLLING INTO THE 1970’S…ON THE EDEGE OF OFFENSIVE GRESTNESS…PART 1

This is being reposted because some info was somehow left off. It is the years for several of the teams that were missing.

For 85-years, starting in 1885, running the ball was the way to win games.  Sometimes a team, after 1906, would throw the ball. When you look at the state record book you notice a few things about the 1970’s.  First, it would not be until 1980 before the emergence of the modern passing game with Chippewa Falls McDonell leading the way. In 1965 and 1967 there would be the state’s first two 2,000-yard season passers but then a drought for hitting that mark until 1980.  There would be the first 2,000-yard rusher carried by Hillsboro’s Dick Barbour in 1970, 2,238 yards. No one else exceeded the high mark, 2,000-yards in that decade.  Port Washington’s Jack Wallisch would come the closest during the 70’s in 1971 with 1,901 yards.   Receivers would have to wait until 1982 to pass the 1,000-yard reception mark but Ken Schmidt from Evansville in 1979 would hall in a then, single season reception record, 69 passes.  All so close to statistical greatness to modern standards.

In talking about career records, as the decade closed, the leader was Greg Cavanagh of Manitowoc Roncalli with 3,762 yards.  Randy Krumrie of Mondovi led the way with 4,357 yards rushing.  Receiver Mike Krepfle of Potosi hauled in over his four-year career 133 passes gaining 1,802 yards but Greg Rabas of Kewaunee gained 1,942 yards on his 125 catches.

1969 was the beginning of football playoffs as the WISAA had only one division with four teams playing for the title.  In 1976 the WIAA followed suit with 16 teams competing in four divisions.  Schools went from playing 7-8, sometimes 9-games in a season.  Now the top teams could expect a 10-12 game extended season.  The run was solidified in 1968 when Head Coach Darrell Royal at the University of Texas and his assistant, Offensive Coordinator Emory Bellard, introduced to the world the Wish-bone Offense.  The running game was bolstered when other coaches, high school and college adapted the “Bone”.  There had been variations starting in the 1950’s but the Longhorns introduced a “new” way to run.  From there the Veer Offense, created by Bill Yeoman at the University of Houston.  The Wishbone was all-most all-run but with the Veer the ball could be thrown as well and effectively.  Running would remain King for a while but eventually, the Spread Offense and all of its variations would be the new rage but that’s in the future.

                                     The Top Teams

                                 Honorable Mention

1975-77 DeSoto…8-1 in 1975, undefeated and Class C champion with a 11-0 record in 1976 and left out of the ability to defend their title in 1977 despite going 9-0 that year.  This was a mistake by the WIAA playoff decision.  1975 Spring Valley…9-0 and #1 in the Little School press poll and had a 34-game win streak which DeSoto would end at 43-games in the first round of the initial 1976 playoffs. 1977 Madison West…Ranked #1 in the polls and the Regents won the 1977 Division 1 title over Stevens Point, 19-14.  1975-78 Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs…Undefeated in three of the four seasons leading into the WISAA state title game, the Ledgers fell shy of winning the title each year, but they were highly ranked by the press polls.  1973 and 1975 La Crosse Logan…Powerful undefeated (9-0) squads in the western part of the state and ranked each season as the #2 team in the polls, just behind Antigo.  1978 Clintonville… Won the D-2 title with a crushing 21-6 victory over Oregon and went 11-0.

The Top 10

                          #10 1979 Edgar (12-0)

The first of eight titles won under the direction of Jerry Sinz, the team had a great defense and a good offense.  Holding eight opponents scoreless and allowing only 32 points.  Dan Seiness led the team in rushing with 761-yards yet he wasn’t named to the All-Marawood Conference.  Of the 22 spots on the All-Conference team, Edgar claimed nine positions with Kent Weber (OT/DL) and Duane Borchardt (OG/DE) earning recognition on both side of the line.  Dave Thurs, a defensive back who hauled in 7 interceptions was named to the first team AP and UPI All-State teams as was defensive lineman Dennis Scharna.  QB Steve Willchowski, LB Gary Urmanski and DB Jim Heidmann were other all-conference stars. The team defeated Iowa-Grant in a fierce battle for the title, 11-6.

             #9 1977 Milwaukee Thomas More 10-1

Coached by HOF ‘er Jim Haluska, the Cavaliers won the WISAA title defeating Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs, 23-7.  They lost their season opener to Racine St. Catherines, 13-6 and then won out, defeating Milwaukee Marquette twice, once in the regular season 41-10 and then in the playoffs 10-7.  Led by junior running back Joe Arata, an All-Conference and All-Area player in 1977 and 1978 as well as an All-Stater in 1978, the team scored 303 points and allowed 87 that season.  Coach Haluska’s 1976 team won their first WISAA title, also going 10-1 and defeating Springs for the title, 15-14.

   #8 1975 11-1 Milwaukee Marquette University H.S.

In his fourth season at the school, HOF Coach Dick Basham directed his Fighting Hilltoppers to the school's first WISAA title.  Only a had fought loss to Milwaukee Pius 8-7 in the sixth game of the year marred the season’s record. The loss was a typical Metro Conference affair and sort of a grudge match between the two rivals.  Led by running back Steve Guhl, tackle Brian Carroll, defensive back Greg Graff and guard Pat Feely, all seniors who were named to the All-State teams.  Senior center D.J. Gral and junior defensive end John Tomasovic were key players as well.  Not a high scoring team, only 269 points, the squad posted four shutouts and gave up only one touchdown in four other games while allowing 78 total points.  The team defeated St. Matry’s Springs for the title 28-6. If not for the loss to Pius, a good team, had Marquette gone undefeated the school might have moved up a spot.

                           #7 1976 11-0 Antigo

Yes, I know I featured the team in a two-part blog a few years ago and it truly was a fine team otherwise I wouldn’t have them ranked in the top 10.  The team won the first WIAA Class A (Now D-1) title, beating Racine Horlick, 6-0.  To Coach Gordon “Gordy” Schofield, it wasn’t about the numbers…lots of points or offensive yardage, it was about the wins.  The team went undefeated allowing only 51 total points with six shutouts.  They only scored 189 points all year.  QB/DB Dan Thorpe earned All-State honors and there were other stars as well.  Check out the two blogs from April 2022 for more details.

                      #6 1979 11-0 Kenosha Tremper

Some may balk at where this team is listed as #6 but the squad would again win the D-1 title in 1980 and in my eyes that was the better of the two.  Led by junior quarterback Marc Hujik who was a second team All-State selection in 10979 and first team in 1980.  He didn’t throw much and he did gain some ground running but it was his all-around play that made him a star.  End Jeff Rusk and defensive lineman Russ Roberts also earned All-State honors for HOF Coach Ron Davies.  The team scored 331 points and allowed 90 points.

               #5 1970 11-0 Green Bay Premontre

The WISAA playoff state champion and the first private school to be ranked in both the AP and UPI press polls.  Quarterback Greg Lemond led the conference in passing, gaining 1,302 yards and tossing 13 touchdowns as he was protected by an offensive line that was nearly as large as that of the Green Bay Packers, averaging 6’3 and 230 pounds.  Lemond was accidentally left off the All-Conference nomination ballot but eight of his teammates made the first team squad. Lineman Greg LoCascio earned All-State honors as did LB/OG Jerry Wied.  Winning the Fox Valley Catholic Conference title in 1969 and 1970, Coach Ron Miller built a powerful ball club that had only two close games, 14-13 vs. De Pere Abbot Pennings and a 25-20 win against Madison Edgewood, before bad weather held the title game score to a 6-0 championship game played at Camp Randall against La Crosse Aquinas.

          #3 TIE 1972 9-0 Antigo and 1973 9-0 Antigo

In both seasons the Red Robins were ranked in both the season final polls by the AP and UPI as the top Large School rankings. The 1973 team scored 305 points and allowed 58 while the 1972 team put up 335 points vs. 44.  Similar stats.  It was impossible to pick between the two teams as to which was better.  They were as always, a run dominated team.  All-Stater Kevin Boodry led the 1973 squad with 1,115 yards on the ground as he scored 16 touchdowns and kicked 22 extra points. In 1974 he was again All-State gaining 1,431 yards and scored 24 touchdowns and 14 extra point for a state leading 158 points as Antigo went 8-1.  While reviewing Antigo records, I discovered that the 158 points Boodry scored was a new high for the 1974 season.

                        #2 1974 8-0 Fond du Lac

The Johnson’s were just part of the great late 1960’s and early 1970’s Fond du Lac Goodrich football program.  First, after four seasons as an assistant Jim Johnson before assuming the head coaching position in 1964.  He took a middle of the road program and turned them into a winner. His sons, Pete and Phil were All-State players.  Pete was a three-time first team All-Stater as a linebacker.  Phil was a second team All-Stater as a junior in 1973 and first team in 1974 when he picked up 1,251 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.  Offensive tackle Jim McCullough and defensive end Mike Mellenthin (Who also played tight end) had 81 tackles were also first team All-Staters.  Linebacker Jim Pierce was ion the second team and led the team with 116 tackles.  Interesting to me, halfback Jerry Lennop was named to the honorable mention list after gaining only 402 yards on the ground and yet he scored 68 points as he scored 11 touchdowns and a two-point conversion.  As a team the Cardinals picked off 16 passes and allowed only 389 yards through the air on opponents 38-119 passing.

                              #1 1978 12-0 Antigo

       Gordy Schofield began building a powerhouse program when he took over at Antigo in 1962, winning the 1969, 1972, 1973 and 1975 press championships and the 1976, 1978 and 1982 WIAA playoff titles.  The Red Robins were just dominate and the 1978 team was their best of the 1970’s.  Led by All-American running back Jerry Schedlbauer who piled up 1,842 yards on 271 carries and 34 touchdowns along with four two-point conversions for 212 points.  The rushing yards, touchdowns and total points led the state that year.  Tackle Dave Brandt and Schedlbauer were first team All-State and defensive back Mike March was on the second team.  Six other players earned first team All-Conference and six others earned honorable mention.  Schofield would win 15 Wisconsin Valley Conference titles in his 25-years as head coach posting a 199-41-2 record.  The red Robins were only challenged twice during the season.  In the season opener against Stevens Point, 14-13 and in the championship against Madison Memorial, 21-14.  Otherwise, they scored a school record 412 points and allowed 130. 

Next time the Top Game, Top Coach, and Top Players.

SCHOOL RECORD BOOKS…HISTORY OF TEAMS

It was like being a five-year-old again at Christmas only it was late June, when I opened the envelope for the River Ridge 2024 Football Record Book.  As I stated in my last blog: BOSCOBEL…PLAYING THE GAME (wihifootball.com)  I was very impressed with what Jimmie Kaska had sent me.  His Media Kit is a wonder but I was even a more impressed in what Wade Winkers, Head Football Coach/Athletic Director at River Ridge had produced.  I was amazed at the detail.  It showed pride in the school program as well giving me history that I hadn’t imagined. 

There were 12 pages of recaps of the 2023 season then a Championship/Awards section.  There were full page pictures/and stats for each conference champion squad.  It was then that I discovered that River Ridge hasn’t always been known as River Ridge.  Back when I was first starting to cull the microfilm files at the Wisconsin State Historical Society, I discovered that Bloomington had a powerhouse team going 9-0-0 in each of the 1970 and 1971 season.  They were led by Greg Hermsen the school’s fullback who is the all-time leading scorer and is #2 all-time in rushing. Hermsen earned 2nd team All-State honors in both seasons and ended up leading the state in scoring in 1971 with 211 points.  Quarterback Earl Patterson was also a three-year starter and is listed as the school’s career leading passer.  The story moves on with other conference champions then to individual honors…All conference, WFCA All-Region, WFCA All-star game participants, an all-time listing of team captains and those who played college ball.

The football program began in 1902 but the record book really covers player and coaching records beginning in 1960 when Bloomington began playing 8-player football.  In 1967 they moved to 11-player when the other members of the Blackhawk Conference did the same. There were years that Bloomington didn’t field a team.   The book has a few seasons prior to 1960 going back to 1902.  Each season has scores for all the games played.

The next section covers team and player stats for 64 pages.  Yes, 64 pages.  There are breakdowns of every 100-yard rusher in a single game, 150 yards in a single game passer and 100 yards in a single game receiving and more.  And yes, EVERY 100/150-yard games.   Wade lists all the single season performers.  There are lists for punt return, kick-off return, interception, punting, tackles and tackles for loss.

Then it moves on to the coaching records with the afore mentioned season individual game scores.  As well as all-time records vs. opponents.  Finally, there are pictures of almost every team.  Throughout, there are many color photos. 

So, why did I mention Bloomington when the book is from River Ridge?  Well, Bloomington was the first area high school.  There are a lot of very small villages in the area and their students attended Bloomington and so the name was just that but from 1986-1994 the schools official name was changed to Bloomington/West Grant.  The school was in western Grant County so hence, the slight name change.  But in 1995 the name changed again and became River Ridge as the school district expanded to include other villages and the River Ridge School District was formed.  Combined, the schools have a 308-234-2 record between the three versions of the school district.  In the early part of the 1900’s Bloomington played, sporadically over many sessions, 11-player football until they moved to 8-player between 1960 and 1966.  Like a lot of early teams many of their records are lost.  Wade was able to accumulate some pre-1960’s records.  Football had been discontinued in 1932 but his records for the earlier years is 6-29-6.  Not counting the  8-player years brings the combined school 11-player record to 314-260-7.

With this fine book that Wade has produced I asked him where he got the idea to do such an expansive book.  The idea came when he talked with and then read The Lancaster Record Book written by Jason Nihles.  Jason works for the Platteville Journal newspaper, he’s a graduate of Lancaster High School and plays adult basketball and softball with Wade.  Through Wade I made contact with Jason who sent me a copy of his book.

Jason wrote the book that I received back in the early part of 2013.  He hasn’t made an update since even though he has done additional research on the school’s teams since.  Family and work keep him busy.

The Lancaster Record Book is full of even better details than the River Ridge book.   And why not?  Lancaster had won six WIAA state titles and 25 conference championships up to 2012.  There are individual pages dedicated to each conference and state champion beginning in 1937.  The pages have a recap of the season, team stats, rosters and the “Key Players”.  Coach John Hoch contributed his All-Time team with a brief biography of each player.  Pages with recaps of the teams’ appearances in the state title games and individual pages on the school’s conference MVP’s and All-State players and all of this is in the first 104 pages out of 178. Page book.  There are some additional 10 pages with advertising that he sold.

Of the remaining 74 pages out of the total 178 contain similar player stats that I mentioned above with River Ridge.  The early part of the book is full of Lancaster history and even though you may not be from the area a history reader would find the info very interesting. 

When I posted my May 10 blog:  WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROGRAMS WITH THE MOST WINS AT THE END OF EACH DECADE…1890-2023 (wihifootball.com) I left out something at the end of the story.  I had tracked Lancaster as a possible entry for the story but the records I found were incomplete.  The school library only had yearbooks that went  back to the 1969 season.  The local library had only a few older yearbooks and through looking at those issues and doing a bit more research I found a few more very early season records.  With the info that Jason has on the Lancaster program starting in 1937 (He actually has the 1936 season w/l/t but not the game scores).  Adding the season records Jason had up to the end of 2013 and then adding the season totals (2013-2023) taken from WISSPORTS records the record is 609-265-22. After I wrote this blog Jason sent me additional information to help confirm my totals. The known above record totals for the school of course doesn't include some missing seasons. Also, Lancaster, like a number of schools was forced to discontinue the sport for some years (1909-1914) because of financial problems or a lack of players. The 609 wins would have placed the school in the #4 spot on my previous blog, one win behind Marinette who has 610. If I had known Jason’s totals previously the school would be on the list, and I will look for more to see if Lancaster can move up a bit higher.

If you think about it, Lancaster (609 known wins), Darlington (715 confirmed wins) and the Platteville (566 known wins) have a combined 1,892 all-time wins.  Remarkable for schools only 55-miles apart and often playing each other.

I highly recommend that you are interested in getting your own copies that you contact Wade Winkers… winkerswa@rrsd.k12.wi.us and/or Jason Nihles…ports@theplattevillejournal.com if you are interested obtaining a copy of their books.  There are very limited editions of each.  They will tell you the cost of the book plus postage.  I think they are masterpieces.

BOSCOBEL…PLAYING THE GAME

A few weeks ago, I was getting ready to send in the 11 and 8-player records update to be posted.  I usually send them to Travis Wilson at WISSPORTS in July, to post on the WFCA web site just before the preseason football workouts.  I had gone through all the emails sent after the last January updates to make sure I had entered the new info when I received several emails from Jimmie Kaska (Pronounced Ku-ska) that were filled with a lot of information.  Two years ago Jmmie sent me an email with a file that he had done on Boscobel football records.  He asked me if I had any old information and I replied that I did not.  I looked at the file and wished him luck on his search.  What he just sent me was a great updated file that held a lot more information.  Read on.

What Jimmie sent changed several of my seasonal leaders lists.  First, my yearly list of passing leaders for 1968 changed.  Tom Bauer of Durand had been the season leader going 106-66-3-1,182 -16 but Boscobel quarterback Steve Randall took huis Bulldog team to only the fourth conference title since 1940 as the team romped through an 8-0-0 season.  Randall passed 150-84-2-1,197-16.  Bauer earned 1st team All-State and Randall earned 1st team All-SWAL (Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League) and honorable mention All-State.

The Bulldogs earned the #2 final press poll ranking in both the Associated Press and the United Press International ratings.  After going through a 1967 4-4-0 season the JV, who posted a 5-1-0 record, bolstered the 1968 squad and they reached the schools highest heights.  In 1967 Boscobel lost to Platteville 39-13 but they revenged that loss in the second game of the season with a 34-12 victory.  Darlington had only allowed 12 points all season until the two schools matched up in the season finale battle of the undefeated conference foes.  The Bulldogs were clearly the best team winning 19-7.

October 3, 1968, Boscobel Dial Newspaper

The other record that changed was on the 1946 scoring champion list.  Lake Mills tailback Bob Petruska had been listed as the season scoring champion with 120 points, scoring 20 touchdowns.  Petruska was a highly rated back who led the L-Cats to a 6-2-0 record.  Bob carried the ball 99 times for 1,401 yards and a 14.1 average per carry.  But research by Jimmie Kaska found that Boscobel’s Jerry Schaefer scored 25 touchdowns and kicked 12 extra points for a season best 162 points.  Both Petruska and Schaefer were named to the second A.P. All-State team. 

    Nov. 12, 1946, Capitol Times Newspaper 1st team All-State   5’10, 180  

The record that Jerry broke was the SWAL scoring record as he scored 143 points (22 touchdowns and 11 extra points) in seven conference games.  Jerry played for the University of Wisconsin Badgers and upon graduating he moved to California and started a chemical company that also specialized in water purification.  In 1996 he donated money along with others toward supplying the school athletic department with workout equipment.  A plaque with his name and fellow contributors is in the weight room of the school so students using the machines know something about Jerry.

There was another email that gave me information on Mile Brown, a three-time All-State punter.  Punting stats are often overlooked by coaching or newspaper reporting.  It was mentioned in a Madison newspaper in 1946 that Bob Petruska of lake Mills averaged “nearly 50-yards per punt” but no official records are available.  What makes Mile Browns records impressive is the fact that he averaged 43.1 yards per kick for his career, second on my all-time list.  But it doesn’t stop there.  In 1988 his average was 43.1, in 1989 he averaged 43.21yards and in 1990 he averaged 43.09 yards per kick.  Talk about consistency.  Mike went on to kick for the University of Minnesota.  He ranks #6 on my season punting records and #2 in career average.   

The final record that Jimmie sent was one led to the creation of a long overdue category in the record book.  I had the longest touchdown run which would never be broken performed in 1899 when the football field was 110-yards.  It was a run by Reed Shepard of De Pere vs. Seymore when he ran 100-yards for the score., Well, the new category is Longest Touchdown Pass Completion.  Why I never included a passing category like this I don’t know.  Now I have Brian Waterman passing to Jamie Matthews for 99-yards in a 14-6 Boscobel loss to Riverdale in 2013.  I ask all readers who know of a 99-yard touchdown run or pass completion to send me the information so I can add it next time to the record book.

With all thus success you might think Boscobel was a power house but Boscobel High School football is not the typical program that I write about.  They don’t often win conference titles.  Four since 1924…1940, 1954, 1955 and 1968.  The school has an all-time record of 278-508-23.  Far from the other programs that I wrote about in my story from May 10, 2024…WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROGRAMS WITH THE MOST WINS AT THE END OF EACH DECADE…1890-2023 (wihifootball.com)

There have only been five first team all-state players from Boscobel since the 1924 start with Jerry Schaefer in 1946, his running mate from that season, Len Richter who was a junior that year but earned the first team in 1947.  And, Mike Bown, the great punter who was first team in 1988-1990.  Work is being done to put a plaque on the football field to honor Rex Foster, the schools only WFCA HOF coach (1948-1955):  Rex Foster - Cuba City / Boscobel (wifca.org)  Foster posted a 43-15-5 record while at Boscobel.  The current players look to them as they will celebrate the school’s “official” 100-year anniversary of the sport. The season opener in 2024 against Hillsboro will be the schools actual 800th game.  They have 11-forfeits in their overall record.

 Jimmie pointed out to me that the team had a 33-game losing streak 1996-1999.

 After winning a game they went on a 17-game skid during 1999-2001.  That’s going 1-50 from 1996-2001.  They had other long losing streaks as well.  The school lost 25-games in a row, including 9 forfeits, from 2002-2005, 23 loses in a row in 2010-2012, 21 in a row from 1958-1960 and 20 consecutive losses in 2017-2020.  They are currently on a 14-game losing streak that dates back to 2022.  Losing seems to be the norm at Boscobel, but things just might be changing.

What makes this program stand out is something like many schools playing the game of football.  The students play for the love of the game.  A chance to succeed and in Boscobel’s case, they don’t often succeed but the team tries and sometimes they do succeed.

With 508 losses there have been few winning or breakeven seasons.  The history that Jimmie Kaska sent first was an extensive spread sheet: Boscobel Football History - Google Sheets

Jimmie is using 1924 as the start of the program. The local newspaper, the Boscobel Dial has repeatedly over the years states that this year, 1924, is when the program official started.  In truth, the school played football on and off from sometime in late 1890 or early 1900. 

Boscobel HS 1898

Boscobel HS 1903

Thanks to Travis Winker from Darlington, who sent me a file three years ago with game-by-game scores of the school’s histories.  The two schools, Boscobel and Darlington, played in 1920 with the Bulldogs losing 51-0.  Jimmie has a few other early scores from this time period as well but these scores are not included in the overall total. Like a lot of record keeping the school or the local newspaper didn’t retain information or cover the sport in print.  The school may have dropped the game in the early years due to financial considerations

Boscobel is like a lot of schools these days.  Trying to fight low numbers, trying to garner student and local population support and trying not to either co-op or drop down to 8-player football.  There is nothing wrong with the last two aspects of the sport but there is pride in trying to go it alone and play 11-player ball.  These schools are also pressed because of students playing other sports like soccer.   

Jimmie Kaska and his wife along with their two young boys moved to Boscobel in 2020.  His wife is from Riverdale and they moved to be closer to her family.  Jimmie has a degree from UW-Superior and is going to work on his Masters at UW-Platteville.  But in the meantime, he has embraced the area he lives in.  Why else would someone take on the creation of an extensive record book for a school that didn’t have that so called, winning tradition.  People like Travis Winkers of Darlington, Jonathan Walters of Franklin, Patrick Froan of Milwaukee Marquette University High School, Nick Raasch of Clintonville, Tanner Wallom of Belleville and Troy Andreshak of Edgar, to name a few, have created a school record book, something long overdue.  Tanner’s file is currently just offensive stats but he will be expanding to include whatever defensive records he can acquire.  Another school with a record book has been printed by Wade Winkers, the head football coach and athletic director at River Ridge.  I’ve just ordered it and I’m looking forward to reading it. 

Jimmie is a radio announcer for Civic Media doing radio sports announcing for all athletics at the school.  He also calls the Isthmus Bowl game for the top non-playoff qualifiers of the WIAC and CCIW held in Sun Prairie. But he didn’t stop there when he moved to Boscobel.  The football team needed assistants and he volunteered by helping out in many capacities.  He became the “go to” guy when other schools needed information.  He’s written the football game reports for the Boscobel Dial as the paper had no one to cover the games.  He ran for and was elected to the school board and helped get a multi-million-dollar referendum passed to expand the school and update the facilities.  This year he will be the special teams coach, all this by a guy who claims to be one of the state’s all-time worst athletes.  Jimmie played sparingly on the 1999 Cadot state championship team and then his family moved and he played for Flambeau.  Both schools had HOF coaches…Pat Rothbauer from Cadott and Darell Gago from Flambeau.   Pat Rothbauer in particular influenced Jimmie to stick with sports.  As it turned out, Rothbauer’s college teammate, Mark Stamper, was the defensive coach at Flambeau for Darrell Dago.  Stemper is now the principal at New Lisbon and helped Jimmie stay involved in extracurricular activities.

This is not to say that Jimmie is the only person trying to turn Boscobel around. Head Coach Marc Chiefari, assistants Kevin Bright, Todd Bell, Justin Sparrgrove, Steve Smith, Taylor Halvorson and Josh Deiter are all dedicated in making positive changes.  They spend long hours with the players in practice and in clinics to move forward.  They are proud of what they do. Boscobel’s season record for the past few seasons has been dismal…0-9 in 2019, 1-4 in 2020 (COVID season), 2-8 in 2021, 1-9 in 2022 and last year, 2023, the Bulldogs went 0-9.  But you wouldn’t know they went 0-9 if you looked at the 62-page year end recap that Jimmie printed up for the team and coaches:  2023 Boscobel Media Media Kit 2023 RECAP.pdf - Google Drive

Last year the team had 23-players.  Several got hurt and several had grade problems   They practiced during the week with maybe 17-19 players with the coaches’ filling positions in practice scrimmages.  They lost each week but if you look at this media kit you might never really know it at first glance.  You might have thought that they were the state champions.  This media kit instilled some real pride in the school and the community.  They are fighting numbers but going into 2024 they already have about 36 players signed up to play football, the most players since 2015.  This is a start. 

A final thing. Jimmie was so impressive with his presentation of his team’s media kit to the other conference coaches at the annual meeting to select the all-conference players, he was voted conference Assistant Coach of the Year.

Not bad for an unpaid assistant coach/media specialist who is truly a Bulldog.

Every school should strive to collect records.  Search the yearbooks at the school and public libraries. Spend time going through the local newspaper.  Look at stats from the last 15-years on WisSports if they are there.  BUILD A LEGACY THAT THE PLAYERS ON YOUR TEAM CAN BE PROUD OF.  Don’t just have the records in a file that isn’t accessible for the public to see but post them attached to the school athletic pages so anyone on the outside can reference them.

Here’s the lesson of this blog: Not every team can win a state title, but each school can strive to impact their program with enthusiasm and maybe their own media kit to help pave the way.  Think about it and give it a try.